Dáil debates

Wednesday, 13 July 2022

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

7:50 pm

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I want my question to be absolutely clear. I think it is a similar question to Deputy Ó Broin’s, although the Minister of State is not quite getting it. As I read it, for the next six months, if someone advertises a short-term residential tenancy for which they do not have permission for a change of use or an exemption, they will be breaking the law and they will be fined and, potentially, imprisoned. However, in six months' time, unless the Minister renews it, they can advertise a tenancy for which they do not have permission and which is in breach of the law, and they will not be subject to a fine or imprisonment. I do not understand that. If someone should not be doing short-term lets because they have not got permission to do them, then why would there be a six-month expiry date on the penalties for advertising that? Unless I am missing something, this is an example of what happens when there is rushed legislation. It does not make any sense. There should be no expiry date on that. How, under any circumstances, could it be right for Airbnb to advertise at any time, anywhere, short-term lets for a property that does not have the permission for short-term lets?

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